Effect of irrigation deficit and cultivation method on some quantitative and qualitative characteristics of potato cultivars

In order to study of effect irrigation deficit and cultivation method on some quantitative and qualitative characteristics of potato cultivars، an experiment was carried out in split-split plot using randomized complete block design with three replications in the experimental field of Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding، Shahid Chamran University of at Ahvaz، during the 2011-2012 cropping season. Experimental factors included cultivation method at two levels: furrow and flat cultivation as main plot، irrigation method at two levels: full furrow irrigation and alternate furrow irrigation as sub-plots and cultivars of Ramus، Santeh، Cosima and Agria as sub-sub plots. Based on the design of the study، for performance treatments in flat cultivation، furrows were made in plot. The results showed cultivation methods had a significant difference on tuber yield، water use efficiency and percent of tuber starch. The furrow cultivation method caused a significant increase with tuber yield 1435. 24 g/m2 and water use efficiency 7. 67 kg/m3. The highest tuber yield (1519. 6 g/m2) was produced by Agria and the lowest tuber yield (821. 5 g/m2) was produced by Ramus. Among irrigation methods، full furrow irrigation by tuber yield (1228. 64 g/m2) had no significant difference with alternate furrow irrigation by tuber yield (1129. 89 g/m2). But method of alternate furrow irrigation by water use efficiency 8. 4 kg/m3 was better with full furrow irrigation. The use of an alternate furrow irrigation is recommended with higher water use efficiency and had no significant effect on tuber yield. Therefore، based on the results، it seems that Agria and Santeh cultivars in the furrow cultivation using alternative irrigation to achieve the appropriate yield and qualitative characteristics with high water use efficiency was suitable in Ahvaz climatic conditions.